July 02, 2013

Home Run Records and a Prime Number Oddity (1927-1974)

JF Ptak Science Books Quick Post

Babe Ruth x Hank Aaron = the product of the first seven primes multiplied in succession.

Babe Ruth hit 714 home runs over his long and incredible career, a record that would stand until the fantastic Henry Aaron broke it on 8 April 1974, hitting his own 715th home run. Multiplying the two numbers makes an interesting product:

714x715=510510

510510=2x3x5x7x11x13x17, which is the first seven primes. And the first seven primes add up to 58, which is close to the record 60 single-season home run mark set by Ruth on 30 September 1927 off a .493 lifetime w/l pitcher in Tom Zachary, (but close doesn't count). The average of those primes is 8.2--Aaron wore the number 44. Again, "close" doesn't count, but it is a fun observation.

I must point out that this is not my own work--its a remembered bit from The Long Ago and I just can't remember the originator.